4th-6th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 1, Session 1: God Created the World and People
2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
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TEACHER BIBLE STUDY All of creation began with a word. God said it, and it happened. This method of creation is
referred to as ex nihilo or “from nothing.” God the Father wasn’t the only One involved in
creation, though. Check out Colossians 1:16-17 and John 1:1-3. Jesus was not only present at
creation, He was involved. Jesus was God’s agent of creation. All things were created by Him
and through Him.
The Bible also tells us that all things were created for Jesus. Have you ever wondered why
butterflies exist or why the setting sun fills the sky with such vivid colors? For Jesus!
God’s creation was perfect, totally unaffected by sin. His plan was to fill the earth with all the
things He saw were good: large sea-creatures, winged birds, crawling animals, livestock, and
wildlife.
God’s ultimate act of creation was creating people. God created people different from everything
else He created. Not only do people have a special purpose—to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7)—but
we were also made to know and love God. God blessed Adam and Eve and commanded them to
be fruitful and multiply.
Creation is the beginning of God’s gospel story, the story that reveals how a great God redeemed
a fallen people by sending His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect sacrifice. Every story in the Bible is a
snapshot of a bigger story, a story that begins at creation.
Pray for the boys and girls you teach as you prepare to share the gospel story with them. Help
kids understand that they were created for a special purpose and that God desires for them to
know and love Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you share with kids the story
of God’s plan to send Jesus to earth to offer salvation to sinners. This story changes everything.
LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: God Created the World and People
Bible Passage: Genesis 1–2
Big Picture Question: Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory.
Key Passage: Genesis 1:27
Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator, came to redeem us and protect
us from the wrath of God by suffering for us.
Transition Time
Welcome time
Activity sheet/Table Centers
Session starter (10 minutes)
Lesson
Countdown
4th-6th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 1, Session 1: God Created the World and People
2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
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Introduce the session (3 minutes)
Timeline map (1 minute)
Big picture question (1 minute)
Tell the Bible story (8 minutes)
Key passage (5 minutes)
Discussion starter video (5 minutes)
Sing (5 minutes)
Prayer (2 minutes) Table Time
Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes)
Key passage activity (5 minutes)
Activity choice (10 minutes)
Prayer (5 minutes)
THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW
God Created the World and People
Genesis 1–2
In the very beginning nothing existed except for God. God spoke and created the heavens and
the earth. When He first created the earth it had no shape and total darkness covered the earth.
The Spirit of God was present, hovering over the waters. God said, “Let there be light!” and
light was created. God separated the light from the dark. The light was called day, and the
darkness was called night. God saw the light and knew that it was good. This all happened on
the first day of creation.
God began to separate the waters that were on the surface of the earth from the waters that were
above the earth. God created a great expanse between the water on the earth and the water
above the earth. He called the expanse sky. This all happened on the second day of creation.
Then God created dry land on the earth. The waters were gathered together into one place and
the dry land appeared. The dry land was called earth, and the waters were called seas. God then
commanded the earth to grow plants and trees. The plants and trees grew, and God knew that
this was good. This all happened on the third day of creation.
Next God placed lights in the sky. God created the sun to shine during the day and the moon
and stars to shine at night. God gave us lights to provide light on the earth, to separate day from
night, and to help us track time in days and years. This all happened on the fourth day of
creation.
God created all living things that are in the water and all birds that fly. God told them to
multiply and fill the seas and the earth. God saw that it was good. This all happened on the fifth
day of creation.
Finally God created animals to cover the earth. The animals multiplied until they covered the
whole earth. God looked down at His creation and knew that it was good.
God then created people. God created people differently from everything else He created; God
created people in His very own image. God took dust from the ground and made a man. God
took His very own breath and breathed into the man, and the man became alive. God then took
4th-6th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 1, Session 1: God Created the World and People
2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
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a rib from the man and created a woman to be the man’s helper and spouse. God named them
Adam and Eve. God asked the man and woman to care for the garden in which He had placed
them and to take care of the earth. God told the man and woman to eat from any tree that He
had created. He said that the trees were food for all the wildlife and animals as well as the
people He had created. God’s one warning was about the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil. From this tree God warned the man and woman not to eat or they would die. This all
happened on the sixth day of creation.
On the seventh day of creation, God rested from all of His work. He had done everything He
planned to do and it was very good.
Christ Connection: Colossians 1:15-22 reveals that Christ is ruler over all of God’s creation.
All of creation was created through Him, by Him, and for Him. Everything was created to give
glory to Christ, but people would choose not to give Him glory. The rest of the Bible reveals
how Jesus would restore the relationship between God and man.
TRANSITION TIME Session Title: God Created the World and People
Bible Passage: Genesis 1–2
Big Picture Question: Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory.
Key Passage: Genesis 1:27
Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator, came to redeem us and protect
us from the wrath of God by suffering for us.
Welcome time
This is a great time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to
your group. Begin getting to know the kids in your small group by asking them about their
favorite place to travel.
Activities/Table Centers • Table Centers (Miscellaneous Activities)
• “Creation Puzzle” activity sheet, 1 per kid (Lesson Specific)
Help boys and girls solve the grid puzzle on the activity sheet, “Creation Puzzle.” Say • God created everything out of nothing.
• People are God’s special creation.
• God created people to bring Him glory.
• Bringing glory is giving praise, honor, and respect. We were created to give praise, honor, and
respect to God.
Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Creation drawing (provided in classroom) • crayons, markers, or colored pencils • plain paper
Lead boys and girls to sit in a circle. On the command each kid will begin to draw a picture of
4th-6th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 1, Session 1: God Created the World and People
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something God created. After 10–15 seconds call “stop,” and instruct kids to pass their pictures to
the person on their right. On the command, kids will continue their friend’s drawing of something
God created. Repeat two or three more times. Say • How hard was it to add to someone else’s drawing?
• Did the final drawing look like what you were thinking of when you started the picture?
• When God created our world, He knew from the beginning exactly what He wanted everything
to look like. When God created the world and people, He saw that everything was good.
Option 2: Paper and scissors creation • pencils • small slips of paper
• scrap paper or old newspapers
• scissors
Option: For an extra challenge only allow kids to use the paper to create their animals.
Instruct kids to write on a small piece of paper the name of their favorite animal. Gather all the
papers, mix them up, and distribute one to each child. Allow each child to create his assigned
animal using only paper and scissors. Lead the group to guess which animal each boy and girl
created. Say • Which animal did you create? How did you create it?
• Was it difficult to create using only paper and scissors? What would you need to create a really
great animal?
• Today in our Bible story we will learn why God created the world and people.
Transition to large group
LESSON Session Title: God Created the World and People
Bible Passage: Genesis 1–2
Big Picture Question: Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory.
Key Passage: Genesis 1:27
Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator, came to redeem us and protect
us from the wrath of God by suffering for us.
Countdown • countdown video (Insert Provided DVD with Lesson Videos and Worship)
Show the countdown video as you clean-up table centers, set up classroom chairs for lesson, and
set it to end as the lesson time begins.
Introduce the session (3 minutes) Tip: Pause after questions to allow kids time to respond. If time allows you may choose to be more interactive with the group by selecting some kids to personally share their answers with the group.
[Large group leader enters wearing a passport holder, and carrying a suitcase and a clipboard.
Look at the kids and around the room while checking off items on your clipboard.]
Leader • Oh good, all my travelers are here. Welcome to Big Picture Airlines! According to my list we are
4th-6th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 1, Session 1: God Created the World and People
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ready to go; we are ready for our flight to begin. I love to fly. Has anyone here ever flown in an airplane
before? Do you like to sit by the window or the aisle? I love to sit by the window. When I sit by the
window I can see a big picture of earth. Here on the ground I can only see what is in this room right now,
but up in the sky I can see this building, other buildings around, and the mountains and lakes. When I
look out the airplane window, I can see the big picture of creation.
That reminds me of something I wanted to share with you all today about the Bible. Did you
know that the Bible shows us a big picture? The Bible tells us the big picture of God’s story.
And we are a part of God’s story. We have a part in God’s big picture! Are you all ready to
hear about how the big picture of God’s story starts? Well, get ready because our plane is
about to take off, and we are going to see how the big picture of God’s story begins. Let’s
check our map to see where our flight will start.
Timeline map (1 minute) • timeline map (Posted on Wall. Additional copies provided for Table Time Review)
Guide children to look at the timeline map.
Leader • We are at the beginning of the map, and each week we will see how God’s story continues as we
travel along the timeline. The Bible gives us the big picture of God’s story. Although the Bible has many
stories about different people, all of those stories are a part of God’s one plan: to save His people through
Jesus Christ. We will travel to many new places on this map and learn how God uses people just like us
in His story.
Big picture question (1 minute) • 11x17 poster provided
Option: Allow kids to create a drum roll by clapping their hands against their legs as you announce the big picture
question.
Leader • But before we get ready to start our journey, you need to know one more thing. Each week we
will have a special big picture question about God’s story. You will want to listen closely during the
Bible story to find the answer to the big picture question. Each question and its answer will help us
understand more about God’s story and how He used people in His plan. Do you want to know what
today’s big picture question is? Now you have to promise not to say the answer out loud if you already
know it. Do you promise? OK, drum roll please. The big picture question is … Who created
everything? I know some of you think you know the answer, but listen to our Bible story to discover the
answer.
Tell the Bible story (8 minutes) • “God Created the World and People” video (on provided DVD) • Bibles
• big picture question – 11x17 poster provided
• Bible story picture – 11 x 17 poster provided
Open your Bible to Genesis 1. Choose to tell the Bible story in your own words, or show the
Bible story video “God Created the World and People.”
Leader • God created everything that exists in the world today. God created Adam and Eve different from
all the other things He created. Remember the Bible shows us the big picture of God’s story. When we
study God’s Word, we can learn about His big picture and how we fit into God’s story. And creation is
the beginning of God’s story.
Did you hear the answer to the big picture question during the Bible story? Who remembers
what the question is? Good. Our question is Who created everything? Are you ready for the
answer? The answer is God created the world and people to bring Him glory. Bringing glory is
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giving praise, honor, and respect. Everything was created to give praise, honor, and respect to
God.
Lead boys and girls to read the question and answer twice. Urge kids to memorize the big picture
question and answer.
Key passage (5 minutes) • key passage poster
• Worship Song: “In His Own Image” (on provided DVD)
Leader • On every airplane flight it is important to have a flight plan. It helps everyone know exactly
where the plane is going and what the plan is for it to reach its destination. In a car we can use an atlas or
GPS to help us know how to get where we are going. God has given us a special flight plan that leads us
to Jesus! God’s flight plan is important, so we will memorize a key passage from the flight plan. God
reveals His plan in the Bible. The Bible tells us how God sent Jesus, His Son, to rescue people from s in
and bring them back to Himself. Here is our key passage for the next few weeks.
Show the poster visual of this unit’s key passage, Genesis 1:27. Lead the boys and girls to read
the verse together. Encourage kids to memorize the key passage.
Leader • The flight plan key passage tells us that God created each of you special, just as He created Adam
and Eve. Being made in the image of God means we were created with the purpose to know and love
God, to please Him and bring Him glory.
Sing “In His Own Image.”
Discussion starter video (5 minutes) • “Creation Talk” video (on provided DVD)
Leader • Today’s in-flight video will start momentarily. During the video think carefully about our Bible
story.
Show the “Creation Talk” video.
Leader • What were the cupcakes talking about? How were the cupcakes created? People often wonder
how we were created. They will ask “How did I get here?” “Why am I here?” Have any of you heard
people talk about where they think the world came from? What would you do if you heard people say
they didn’t believe God created world and people?
Invite two or three kids to share. Encourage the kids to think about the Bible story and how they
could use that to respond. Leader • Remember our big picture question was Who created everything? God created the world
and people to bring Him glory. In your life you will hear a lot of different opinions and ideas. Always
look to God and the Bible to find the truth for every situation and idea. God’s Word is always true.
Sing (5 minutes) • Worship Song: “You Are God Alone” (on provided DVD)
Leader • It is time to praise God for creating our wonderful world. Join me in singing our theme song.
Sing “You Are God Alone.”
Prayer (2 minutes) Leader • In small group, you will continue to learn about creation and God’s story. God created you, and
you are a part of His plan. We are a part of the big picture of God’s story.
After I close in prayer, watch your small group leader for the signal to exit the airport. I
can’t wait to see you again next week and discover where we will travel to next on our journey
through the big picture of God’s story.
4th-6th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 1, Session 1: God Created the World and People
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Dismiss to small groups for Table Time
Insights for Large Group Leaders
Big picture question: Big picture questions are designed to help teach kids Bible truths systematically.
Generally, the question will be introduced prior to each Bible story, and the answer will be revealed
following the Bible story. Encourage kids to memorize the big picture question and answer each week.
Christ Connection: At the end of every Bible story is a Christ Connection paragraph that relates Christ to
that specific story. On the video, the Christ Connection is shared after the Bible story. The Christ
Connection is also reviewed in the small group.
Timeline map: If space is limited, hang one or two sections of the timeline map at a time. When you
review the Bible stories from the previous weeks, point out the Bible stories on the timeline to allow kids to
see the progression of chronology.
Key passage: The key passage will be the same for the entire unit. Encourage kids each week to work on
memorizing the key passage by the end of the unit.
Small group/large group/small group: If your children’s ministry has self-contained classes instead of
small and large groups, use both the small group and large group guide to plan your session. Utilize the
small group opening guide to plan opening activities, the large group leader guide to plan Bible teaching
time, and the small group leader guide to plan review and application activities.
TABLE TIME LEADER Session Title: God Created the World and People
Bible Passage: Genesis 1–2
Big Picture Question: Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory.
Key Passage: Genesis 1:27
Unit Christ Connection: God knew we would sin, and Jesus, our Creator, came to redeem us and protect
us from the wrath of God by suffering for us.
Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) • Bibles, 1 per kid
• Timeline - small group visual pack
Tip: A script of the Bible story and the Christ Connection is included in each session plan. While it is a useful guide,
remember that kids need to see and hear you teach from the Bible.
Use the small group visual pack to introduce the timeline. Lead kids to open their Bibles to Genesis 1–2 and review the Bible story. You may tell the story again in your own words. Always teach with your Bible open to the Bible passage.
Review the story of creation by playing a game. Form two teams. Explain that you will ask a
question and they will need to locate the answer and the verse(s) in which they found the answer.
The answer may be found in more than one verse, but kids only need to find one verse for a
correct answer. When a team member has an answer, they must announce, “It was good,” and
4th-6th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 1, Session 1: God Created the World and People
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stand.
Possible questions and answers:
1. How did God create everything except Adam and Eve?
(He spoke; Genesis 1:3,6,9,11,14,20,24,26)
2. What day did God create the sun, moon, and stars? (day four, Genesis 1:14-19)
3. What made man a living being? (God breathed the breath of life into him, Genesis 2:7)
4. What did God give Adam to live in and care for? (the garden of Eden, Genesis 2:15)
5. What did God declare the seventh day? (holy, Genesis 2:3) Say • At the end of our Bible story we heard how Jesus Christ is connected to the story of creation. Colossians 1:15-22 tells us that Jesus had a special part of creation. All of creation was
created through, by, and for Him.
• Who is the ruler over all of God’s creation? (Colossians 1:15-22 reveals that Christ is ruler
over all of God’s creation.)
• Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory.
Key passage activity (5 minutes) • key passage poster
• Bibles
Lead kids to open their Bibles and read the verse together. Form teams of two or three. Assign
each team a phrase from the verse. Guide each group to create an action to go with its phrase
(examples: hop on one foot, special dance move). After a few minutes ask everyone to form a
circle with the groups standing in verse order, clockwise. The first group will share its phrase and
motion. Everyone will repeat the phrase and motion. The second group will share its phrase and
motion. Everyone will repeat the first phrase/motion and the second phrase/motion. Continue
until kids finish the entire verse. Lead the group to say the verse without the motions. Say • Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory.
• God created you in His image to know and love God, to please Him and bring Him glory.
• We are made in God’s image, and this makes us incredibly valuable. We all have days when
we do not feel special or pretty or cool or valuable. On those days remember that God
created you, and He has a plan for you as a part of His story. You are a part of God’s big
picture.
Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Creation top ten (Provided in Classroom) • several sheets of paper
• pen or marker for each team
Form teams of two or three. Give each team a piece of paper and a pen to record its answers.
Guide each team to number its paper one to ten. Share that each team will list ten items that fit the
category you give them. They will have 60 seconds to create their lists. After time is called each
team will share its list. Each team earns one point for each item on its list that is not listed by any
other team. Play again as time allows using a new category.
Suggested Categories:
1. Things on Earth God Created
2. Things in Space God Created
4th-6th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 1, Session 1: God Created the World and People
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3. Plants God Created
4. Animals God Created
5. Insects God Created Say • Jesus Christ is ruler over all of God’s creation.
• Everything God created has a purpose.
• Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory.
Option 2: Dirt people • markers • long piece of chart paper or three sheets of poster board
• dirt or sand
• straws, 1 per kid
• glue
• tarp or old sheet (optional) Tip: Use a foam brush to “paint” your picture.
Lay a long piece of paper or three sheets of poster board on the floor. You may wish to place a
tarp or old sheet under the paper. Direct kids to use markers to write the key passage or a phrase
of the key passage along the bottom or on one section of the paper. Use glue to draw a picture in
the middle of the paper of Adam and Eve. Line the top and side edges of the paper with dirt or
sand. Allow kids to use a straw to gently blow the dirt onto the glue to form Adam and Eve. After
it dries, hang the dirt people picture up in your small or large group area or hallway. Say • God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground. He made Eve using one of Adam’s ribs.
• When God made Adam and Eve, He breathed into them to give them life.
• The Bible says God created man in His own image. This means that man was made different
from everything else God created.
• God made us to know Him and love Him.
• Who created everything? God created the world and people to bring Him glory.
Prayer and Clean-Up (5 minutes)
Allow kids to share their prayer requests with the group. Lead the group in a prayer thanking God
for His creation.
Clean-Up Room
Dismiss
In the BeginningUNIT 1 • Session 1 • Older Kids Activity Pages
Instructions: Fill in the puzzle so
that each row, column, and mini-box
has only one of each creation.
What are some of your favorite things created by God? List a few of your favorites or draw a picture of them.
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Instructions: Challenge a friend to see who can ďż˝ ll in the most spaces with
the name of something God created that starts with the letters provided.
A_____________
B_____________
C_____________
D_____________
E_____________
F_____________
G_____________
H_____________
I_____________
J_____________
K_____________
L_____________
M_____________
N_____________
O_____________
P_____________
Q_____________
R_____________
S_____________
T_____________
U_____________
V_____________
W_____________
X_____________
Y_____________
Z_____________
© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources.
In the BeginningUNIT 1 • Session 1 • Older Kids Activity Pages
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In the BeginningSession Title: God Created the World and People
Bible Passage: Genesis 1–2
Big Picture Question for preschoolers: Who made
everything? God made everything.
Big Picture Question for kids: Who created
everything? God created the world and people to bring
Him glory.
Key Passage: Genesis 1:27
Christ Connection: Colossians 1:15-22 reveals that Christ is ruler over all of God’s creation. All of creation was created through Him, by Him, and for Him. Everything was created to give glory to Christ, but people would choose not to give Him glory. The rest of the Bible reveals how Jesus would restore the relationship between God and man.
UNIT 1 • Session 1© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources.
OK tO print
This week take a walk outside and discuss how God created the world. Look for things He
created on each of the six days. Make a list of the creations you saw on your walk.
Family Journal Page
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